Conduit for electric wires.



F. C. HODKINSON. BOND-HIT FOR ELECTRIC WIRES. APPLICATION FILED JAN.16,1912.

1 055 173 Patented Mar. 4, 1913. V

32? Z I $4,222,; ,I K L,

WITNESSES a portion of one structure shown,

CONDUI'I FOR ELECTRIC WIRES.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANK C. HoDKIN- son, a resident of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Conduits for 'Electric l/Vires, 'of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a perspective View showing form of my improved conduit;'Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 are end views showing different modifications thereof.

My invention has relation to conduits for electric wires, and more particularly to conduits designed for interior use in carrying wires along the outside of a wall or ceilin The object of my invention is to provi e a conduit of this character which can be manufactured at a relatively low cost and which can be quickly installed.

Referring first to that form of my improved conduit which is shown in Fig. 1, the numeral 2 designates a piece of sheet metal which is bent to form the hollow I the free edges of the sheet being brought into position adjacent each other at one slde' of the structure and with the ribs 3 and 4, which are adapted to be sprung or snapped into enga ement with each other. The conduit can e attached to the wall or ceiling by screws or the like, inserted through screw seats 5.

In the modification shown in Fig. 2, the conduit is also formed of a single piece of sheet metal, bent or shaped to form the base formed, respectively,

portion 6 and the cap portion 7, the latterbeing connected to the base portion at one side by the bend or fold 8, and at its free edge having the outwardly extending lip 9, which is substantially parallel with the base portion and is adapted to be secured thereto by screws 10, placed at suitable intervals. Other screws 11' are used at the opposite side, passing throu h the fold or bend at 8, and through the ase.

The form shown in Fig. 3 is similar to that shown in Fig. 2, except that the lip 12 of the free edge portion of the cap part of the structure is formed with a rib or bead 13, adapted to interfit with a groove 14 of Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed January 15, 1912. Serial No. 671,384.

3 mg the conduit Patented Mar. a, 1913.

complementary form in the base portion of the structure. I

In the modification shown in Fig. 4, the free edge of the base portion has an inwardly turned lip 15, and the free edge of the cap portion has an outwardly turned lip 16, the latter being adapted to he sprung into engagement with the lip 15, cated in dotted lines. p

In the modification shown in Fig. 5, the free edge of the base portion is not only formed with an inwardly turned lip 17, corresponding to the lip 15 of Fig. 4, but its free edge is again bent outwardly to form the secondary lip 18. The free edge portion 19 of the cap part of the structure is normally given a bend inwardly with respect to the lip 18, which is adapted to be sprung outwardly into engagement with said lip, as shown in Fig. 5.

My invention provides a conduit for interior use which can be readily and cheaply manufactured from a single piece of sheet metal which can be readily secured in place and Whichcan be readily closed after the wires have been placed therein. The engaging edges can also be readily sprung out of engagement with each other to permit access to the interior of the raceway for inspectionor other purposes, without removor any part thereof from the lace where it is installed.

I o-not desire to limit myself to the exact forms of my invention which I have shown and described since it will be obvious that the uniting e ges of the structure may be specifically formed inwarious other ways so as to be sprung into securing engagement with each other. a

I claim:

1. A conduit scribed, formed sheet metal bent section of, the character defrom a single piece of upon itself to form a laterally closed structure, the free edges of the metal being brought together and formed with inter-engaging hooks, the bend of the metal opposite the hooks affording spring means which tend to maintain the as indiengagement of the hooks; substantially as described.

2. A conduit section of the character described, formed from a single piece of sheet metal bent upon itself to form a laterally verse inward bend at closed structure of oblong form, and having one flat side, the free edges of the metal being brought together and formed with inter-engaging hooks, the bend of the metal opposite the hooks affording spring means which tend to maintain the engagement of the hooks; substantially as described.

3. A conduit section of the character described, formed from a single piece of spring metal bent upon itself to form a laterally closed structure of oblong cross-section and having one side flat, the metal having a rei one end of said flat side, said reversed bend constituting a spring member, the action of which tends to separate the top and bottom portions of the structure; substantially as described.

4. A conduit section of the character described, formed from a single piece of spring metal bent upon itself to form a laterally closed structure of oblong cross-section and having one side fiat, the metal having reverse inward bends at the ends of said flat side, said bends forming later ally extending attaching projections and one of said bends also member, together with means for positively but detachably securing together the free edges of the metal; substantially as described.

5. A conduit section of the character described, formed from a single piece of metal bent upon itself to form a laterally closed structure having a flat base and a body portioniinset inwardly from the edges of the base by reverse bends to form laterally extending attaching projections, the edges of the sheet having means for securing them together; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

FRANK o. HoDKINsoN,

Witnesses G. M. VIERS, H. M. Conwnv.

acting as a spring" 

